New arrest warrants in frat party investigations

The Fayetteville Prosecutor’s Office has submitted arrest warrants and is waiting for the judge to sign off on the warrants for two people accused of providing alcohol to the minor.

Authorities at the University of Arkansas are investigating after a 19-year-old fraternity pledge was hospitalized with possible alcohol poisoning.

The male student was admitted Saturday to Washington Regional Medical Center with possible alcohol poisoning. The teen had received a bid that morning to become a pledge at UA's Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

Lt. Gary Crain, a spokesman with UA's police department, said officers are pursuing the suspects, but because the crime is a misdemeanor, the police department is focusing its resources on felonies.

“Of course, a warrant issued for a serious felony is going to get more attention than a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor warrant, on the other hand, will go through a process that won’t be as important to immediately go somewhere and find that individual,” said Crain.

Crain said once the warrant is issued and the two suspects are notified, the police department will give them a deadline to turn themselves in.

“They are not getting away with anything. They may delay it, but they are not getting away with it,” said Crain.

The Fayetteville prosecuting attorney said they will not go after the two suspects if they don't come back to school. But according to police investigators, the suspects could be arrested if they are pulled over for a traffic stop and the officer sees they have a warrant out for their arrest.

Crain said a member of the fraternity drove the student to the hospital, which later informed UA police about the incident.

Brian C. Warren Jr., the national executive director of Sigma Phi Epsilon, said the chapter has suspended all operations pending the outcome of the investigation.

The hospitalized student was released from the hospital Monday.

Campus officials said the fraternity was being investigated as to whether it provided alcohol to the underage pledge.

Washington County Deputy Prosecutor Matt Durett said any evidence would need to show specifically who provided alcohol to the student.

"Just because someone is at a party and some minor gets some alcohol, or just because you're drinking around someone who's underage, it isn't enough. The university can't bring criminal charges to the whole fraternity if only specific members wind up being charged with the crime," Durett said.

Copyright 2013 by KHBS and The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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